Controlled synthesis of crystalline tellurium nanorods, nanowires, nanobelts and related structures by a self-seeding solution process

Single crystalline nanorods and nanowires of t-Te have been prepared by a simple solution route. The procedure involves the disproportionation of NaHTe, prepared by the reduction of Te with NaBH4. By carefully controlling the reaction conditions, the diameter of the nanorods could be varied in the 20–300 nm range. Nanowires of 10 nm diameter were obtained in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate. Te nanobelts and nano junctions were obtained by employing hydrothermal and solvothermal conditions. The nanorods have been characterized by a variety of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. UV-Visible spectra reveal two absorption bands, one around 300 nm which is size-sensitive and the other at 600 nm insensitive to size.